ARTS, BRIEFLY; Donmar Warehouse Names Artistic Director

By ROBIN POGREBIN

Published: March 11, 2011

The Donmar Warehouse, the well-known London theater, has a new artistic director. Josie Rourke will take up the position on January 1, 2012, taking over for Michael Grandage who will step down at the end of this year after a decade in the role, the theater announced on Thursday. Ms. Rourke's appointment represents a return to the Donmar; she trained in the company's Resident Assistant Director program in 2000 - working alongside Mr. Grandage, Nicholas Hytner, Phyllida Lloyd and Sam Mendes. Her directing work for the Donmar has included ''Frame 312,'' ''World Music'' and ''The Cryptogram.''

''Nothing could make me more proud than to return to the place where I began,'' Ms. Rourke said in a statement, adding that she will inherit her predecessors' ''legacy of 20 years of wonderful productions, extraordinary performances and great nights out at the theater.''

Ms. Rourke is currently artistic director for the Bush Theater in London, where she has directed several plays and overseen the company's move to the old library building in Shepherd's Bush, due to open next fall. She has also directed the 24 Hour Plays at the Old Vic in London and in New York.

This is a more complete version of the story than the one that appeared in print.